Workers' Health: Global of Plan of Action

1. Workers' Health: Global of Plan of Action

2. Why a WHO Global Plan of Action on Workers Health? • To provide a framework for concerted action by all health and non-health actors for protecting and promoting the health of workers • To establish political momentum for primary prevention of occupational and work-related diseases • To ensure coherence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health interventions at the workplace

3. What determines workers health? Work-related health practices • individual risk-taking behaviour • physical exercise, sedentary work • diet and nutrition • unhealthy habits – smoking, alcohol Access to health services: • preventive occupational health services • specialized curative care and rehabilitation • health and accident insurance Working environment • Mechanical • Physical • Chemical • Biological • Ergonomic • Psycho-social risks Social factors • occupational status, employment conditions • income • inequities in gender, race, age, residence etc.

4. Young workers – special target group for action • Lack of training in safety • Lack of experience in dealing with risks • Insufficient supervision • Not prepared for special tasks • High risks of injuries • Musculoskeletal disorders • Alergies and asthma Number and distribution of fatal occupational injuries by age among young workers in the US, 1992-2002

5. Global trends • Growing informal economy • Changing relations at work – no workers-employer contract • Agriculture • Outsourcing, subcontracting • Family business • Child labour

6. From occupational health to workers health The Public Health Approach The Labour Approach Workers Health All workers Beyond the workplace Responsibility of everybody All health determinants Other stakeholders: insurance, health and environment authorities Health protection not subject to collective negotiation Occupational Health Labour Contract Employer's responsibility Only at the workplace Only work-related health issues Negotiation between workers and employers

7. 60th World Health Assembly, May 2007Resolution 60.26 "Workers' Health: Global Plan of Action" The Global Plan of Action developed by the Member States for the Member States Member States pledged full support and commitment to implement action on workers' health Adopted by consensus by all 192 Member States of WHO WHA60 endorsed the global plan of action on workers' health (2008-2017) WHA60 urged Member States to take an number of measures on workers' health

8. Principles for global action • Highest attainable standard of health and favourable working conditions for all workers • The workplaces should not be detrimental to health • Primary prevention of occupational health hazards is a priority • The workplace can be a setting for delivery of essential health interventions and for promotion of health • All components of the health system should respond in an integrative way to the health needs of workers • Action should be implemented with a view to reducing inequalities in workers' health within and between countries • Workers and employers and their representatives should participate in activities

9. The global plan of action deals with all aspects of workers' health • Primary prevention of occupational hazards • Protection and promotion of health at work • Employment conditions • Better response from health systems to workers' health Actions are to be considered and adapted by countries, as appropriate, to their national profiles and specific circumstances in order to achieve the specific objectives of the plan

10. Objective 1: to develop and implement policy instruments on workers health • National policy frameworks • legislation • intersectoral collaboration • funding and resource mobilization • National action plans on workers’ health • national profiles and priorities for action • objectives, targets and actions • mechanism for implementation, monitoring and evaluation • human and financial resources • National approaches for prevention of priority occupational diseases and accidents • National programs for occupational health and safety of health care workers • Minimizing gaps – high risk sectors, vulnerable groups (children, migrant workers), gender aspects • WHO assistance to strengthen the capacities of ministries of health; global campaigns: elimination of asbestos-related diseases and immunization of healthcare workers against HBV

11. Objective 2:to protect and promote health at the workplace • Improving assessment and management of health risks at work: • Essential interventions for prevention occupational hazards • Integrated management of chemicals • Elimination of second-hand tobacco smoke from all indoor workplaces • Health impact assessment • Basic set of occupational health standards • Minimum requirements for health and safety protection • Enforcement and inspection • Capacities for primary prevention of occupational hazards, diseases and injuries • Methodologies • Training • Healthy workplaces • Health promotion and prevention of noncommunicable diseases at the workplace: diet, physical activity; mental health; family health • Prevent and control HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, avian influenza

12. Objective 3:to improve the performance of and access to occupational health services • Coverage and quality of occupational health services: • Linkage to national health strategies and health sector reforms • Standards for organization and coverage • Mechanisms for pooling resources and financing of the delivery • Sufficient and competent human resources • Quality assurance systems • Universal access to basic occupational health services • Building core institutional capacities – national and local levels • Development of human resources for occupational health: • Post graduate training • Capacities for basic occupational health services • workers-’health in training of primary health care • Attracting and retaining human resources

13. Objective 4:to provide and communicate evidence for action and practice • Systems for surveillance of workers' health: • National information systems • Capacities to estimate burden of diseases and injuries • Registries of exposures, diseases and accidents • Early reporting and detection • Research: • Special agendas • Practical and participatory research • Communication and awareness raising • Workers and employers • Policy makers, media • Health practitioners • WHO action: indicators for workers' health; incorporation of occupational causes of diseases in ICD11; diagnostic and exposure criteria for occupational diseases

14. Objective 5: to incorporate workers’ health into other policies poverty hazardous work ill-health • Economic development policies and poverty reduction strategies • Collaboration with private sectors to avoid international transfer of risks • National plans and programmes for sustainable development • Consider workers' health in the context of trade policies • Assess health impacts of employment policies • Environmental protection in relation to workers' health: • Strategic approach to International Chemicals Management • Multilateral environmental agreements: Rotterdam, Basel, Stockholm • Environmental management systems • Emergency preparedness and response • Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies • Sectoral policies for branches with highest health risks • Primary, secondary and higher level of education and vocational training

15. Implementation • Government leadership with participation of employers and workers • Adaptation to national specificities and priorities • WHO support for implementation: • partnerships – ILO, organizations of employers, trade unions, civil society and private sector • standard setting, guidance, contribution to adoption and implementation of international labour conventions • articulating policy options for national agendas • technical support for specific needs and building core capacities • monitoring and addressing trends • scientific and advisory mechanisms • Review and monitoring • national and international indicators of achievement • reporting to WHA in 2013 and 2018

16. Thank you WHA resolution 60.26 "Workers' Health: Global Plan of Action" Resolution http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA60/A60_R26-en.pdf For further information workershealth@who.int